1954 Map of Midland

About this map

Central Michigan is defined by its sweeping river systems and established industrial hubs in this 1971 revision of a 1954 survey. Major population centers like Grand Rapids and Saginaw anchor the southern reaches, while the Tittabawassee River and Saginaw River converge at Midland, illustrating the critical role of these waterways in the region's development. Further north, the landscape shifts toward protected lands and recreation, highlighted by the Manistee National Forest and Houghton Lake. The map meticulously details the transit infrastructure of the mid-century, including the Grand Trunk Western RR and the Ann Arbor RR, which provided vital links for settlements such as Mount Pleasant and Alma. Researchers can observe the balance between early 1970s suburban growth and the established natural features like Hardy Dam Pond and Sanford Lake.